IOBM expels, reinstates student complaining of harassment

KARACHI:

The Institute of Business Management (IoBM) reversed on Monday its decision to expell a student, who has accused the university's transport department of harassment and voiced complaints against two senior faculty members, after the student body rallied in support of said student.

Around a month ago the female student in question, enrolled in the varsity's BBA program, entered the Transport Office at IOBM to collect her ID card. Ten minutes later, she exited the room in panic, trembling and crying. She scrammed towards the HR department, where she recounted that misters S* and B* of the Transport Office had attempted to lock the door with her in it.

The student only managed to escape because her peers outside the office responded to her screams, allowing her to escape.

The HR deparrment heard the panic stricken student. Then simply told her this was not their domain as it wasn't their department. The student was accused of "overreacting" and called a "liar". Stumped, she informed her family, and made her way to two senior faculty members and told them what had happened.

"Agressive behaviour"

At first, the two female faculty members comforted her. When her enraged brother arrived, however, the reassurances morphed into anger at the student.

A heated argument broke out between the student's family and the university staff, with the HR department denying being informed of the matter altogether. The administration later accused the student and her family of "aggressive behavior" and the disciplinary committee declared her guilty of misconduct across three departments-Transport, HR, and Academics, issuing a permanent expulsion notice.

Students respond

On October 22, the student shared her experience on a campus social media group. The post went viral, prompting hundreds of students to rally outside the administration block, demanding justice and accountability. Due to mounting pressure and growing anti-management sentiment, IoBM shifted classes online. Faced with public backlash and student solidarity, the administration rescinded the expulsion and initiated action against the accused employees.